MSU FACULTY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
September 3, 2003
Members Present: Mike Giroux, Tim McDermott, Peter Kommers, Harold
Schlotzhauer, Alan Leech, Shannon Taylor, Rich Howard, Joe Seymour,
Warren Jones, Jay Conant, Marvin Lansverk, Sandy Levy, Steve Cherry,
Yves Idzerda, Pat Lynes-Hayes, Maryann Prawdzienski, Assistant Deans'
Rep Joe Fedock.
New Members Present: David Weaver, John Christopher, Mike Neeley, Paul
Monaco, Joe Ashley.
The meeting was called to order by 2003-04 Chair Richard Howard at
4:10 PM. A quorum was present. The minutes of the April 30, 2003,
meeting were approved as distributed.
Chair's report - Richard Howard.
- New members were welcomed.
- The Faculty Council Annual Report for 2002-03 was distributed.
(It is available at http://www.montana.edu/wwwahe/usg/ ).
- A significant accomplishment was establishing a policy
with the administration governing release time for the
Chair, Chair-Elect, and Faculty Affairs Chair and increasing
the release time buy-out for these positions.
- A University Shared Governance web page has been created
(see URL above), an acknowledgment that shared governance is
operational and a critical element at MSU.
- At graduation, faculty were recognized as an important
component in the education of students, and the faculty
award winners were acknowledged by name.
- There has been increased interaction with the President
and the Provost.
- A formal liaison with Graduate Council has been
established.
- Faculty representation on UPBAC has been increased by
adding the Past Chair of Faculty Council to the membership.
- Discussion between the Provost and Deans was initiated
regarding additional compensation to faculty for teaching
overloads.
- University employees were surveyed to estimate the number
of employees' children who would take advantage of a
scholarship to attend MSU-Bozeman, if it were available.
- The addition of a MUS faculty representative to the table
at Board of Regents' meetings was facilitated. During the
past year, MSU Faculty Chair Howard filled the position.
- The Faculty Council Chair and Chair-Elect met regularly
with the Board of Regents Chair, Richard Roehm.
- The Faculty Affairs Committee, under the leadership of the
Chair, Walter Metz, did an outstanding job of identifying
Faculty Handbook amendments to be made and addressing them.
The chairmanship of Faculty Council was turned over to Warren Jones,
2003-04 Chair. Outgoing Chair Howard was thanked for his leadership
during the past year.
Remarks by the 2003-04 Faculty Council Chair - Warren Jones.
- Some issues to be addressed during the coming year have been
identified.
- A web-based review of administrators at the level of
department head or above will take place this semester.
Rich Howard will help prepare the review and organize the
results. By having the review take place fall semester, the
input can be used during spring semester reviews of
administrators.
- The possibility of greater faculty involvement in program
evaluations to be used in MSU's strategic planning and
resource allocation processes will be explored.
- Developing a role for Faculty Council in academic program
approval will be discussed.
- Additional compensation for teaching overloads will be
considered at greater length.
- The idea of scholarships for employees' children will
continue to be pursued.
- The Faculty Affairs Committee, chaired by Marvin Lansverk,
will consider Faculty Handbook amendments left from spring
semester.
- Chair Jones views himself as a liaison between Faculty Council
and the administration. He may be contacted at
warren_j@erc.montana.edu or 994-6129.
Additional topics to be discussed during the year.
- Other issues were briefly discussed during the past year, and
there should be some follow-up of them. They include review of
the sabbatical process, especially in the area of peer review.
Availability of sabbaticals should also be revisited. The state
contribution to the optional retirement program was briefly
discussed last year and should be reviewed to determine if there
is any possibility of the state increasing it.
- Individuals to be invited to Faculty Council to give
presentations include Greg Young, Vice Provost for Undergraduate
Education; Bruce McCleod, Dean of Graduate Studies; David Dooley,
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; and the local
regent, Richard Roehm.
Other.
- President Gamble will give a campus address Wednesday, October
8, at 4:10 PM in SUB Ballroom B.
As there was no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 PM
Joann Amend, Secretary Warren Jones, Chair